This is a pretty well written article by Dr. Musa Maguire on what people can mean when they say American Islam and how people view it, and in what respect it is being called ‘American’.

What is American Islam?
By Dr Musa Maguire
Director of Community Relations, MA’RUF

There is a lot of talk and enthusiasm these days about “American Islam”. As Muslim communities take root in the United States and confront unprecedented social, political, and cultural realities, we are faced with difficult decisions about how to define our identity and practice our faith in this land. Despite its popularity, however, the exact definition of American Islam remains unclear.

The Pew Forum recently released its study on the size and distribution of the Muslim World population entitled: “Mapping the Global Muslim Population”. This comes about a year and a half after the Vatican released that about 1 in 5 people in the World are Muslim at 19.2% compared with Catholics at 17.2%, back in March 2008 (Muslim Matters: Islam Surpasses Catholicism). The new study estimates the Muslim population 4% higher, making it approximately 1 in 4 people in the world are Muslims. The Christian(all denominations) estimate according to most studies is about 33% which is 1 in 3 people in the world, and has been stable for awhile.

The more likely reason for this rise is the number of kids Muslims have, which is usually higher than the rest of the world. The World fertility rate (birth per woman in her lifetime) is around 2.5-2.6, Muslims tend to have a rate substantially more than that (taking top 9 most populous muslim countries it would be close to 2.85). The population growth for Muslims from 2000-2006 according to one study was 2% while the rest of the world’s was 1.2%, otherwise read as: It would take 167 years for the world population to double while it would take about a 103 years. World Birth and fertility rates are mentioned here and here respectively. Muslim population has been growing but the birth/fertility rates have been dropping. Just shows us what lies ahead of us, meaning we need step up our game not only in birth rates but more importantly in spreading information about Islam aka Da’wah!

I heard Imam Siraj Wahhaj once say at a conference, “Everyone should carry an Almanac with them.” He was emphasizing how Muslims should be aware of the changes and trends occuring in the world. The results of the released study is only 62 pages and everyone should read it. And out of the 62 pages only about 30-35 pages consist of relevant information, the rest includes methodogy, references, and sources. I have summarized and listed below some highlights, interesting facts,and comparisons mentioned in the study and some I noticed myself.

Two ahadith of the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) come to mind when reading studies like these:

“It is near that the nations will call one another against you just as the eaters call one another to their dishes.”

Somebody asked: “Is this because we will be few in numbers that day?”

He said: “Nay, but that day you shall be numerous, but you will be like the foam of the sea, and Allah will take the fear of you away from your enemies and will place weakness into your hearts.”

Somebody asked: “What is this weakness?”

He said: “The love of the world and the dislike of death.” (Abu Dawood)

2.Narrated Ma’qil ibn Yasaar:….

The Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

‘…..for I will be proud of your great numbers before the other nations.”

(Abu Dawood)

The executive summary reads:

A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 1.57 billion Muslims of all ages living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated 2009 world population of 6.8 billion.

Interactive Map by Country and Territory

The Study was done for about 232 countries relying upon more than 1500 sources. It is possibly the most comprehensive amongst the more recent ones as they claim and possibly righfully so.

The Top Five Countries in Muslim population:

Indonesia (203 Mil.*)

Pakistan (174 Mil.)

India (161 Mil.)

Bangladesh (145 Mil.)

Egypt (78.5 Mil.)

Nigeria (78 Mil.)

*Mil. = Million

Here are some highlights:

Estimated 2009 World population 6.8 Billion

1 in 4 people in the world are Muslim (Approx. 23% – 1.57 Billiion)

9 in 10 are Sunni as opposed to Shia (87%-90%)

Majority of Shia (about 80%) are found in only 4 countries: Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India

2 out of 3 Muslims live in Asia

Only 20% (1 in 5) of Muslims live in Arab world (N. Africa and Middle East)

1 in 3 Muslims of the World live in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

1 in 5 Muslims live as minorities (300 Mil.)

More than 50% of those minority Muslims live in India

Muslims as Minorities and in the West:

India has the largest Muslim minority population, also is the third largest in the World (161 Million)

Followed by Ethiopia(28 Mil.), then China(21.6 Mil.), and then Russia(16.5 Mil.).

2 out of the 10 top countries with Muslims as a minority are in the West: Russia and Germany

11% of Russia and ~5% of Germany(4 Mil.) is Muslim, France comes in next with 3.5 Mil., then UK

Kosovo and Albania are the only 2 countries in Europe with more than 75% Muslims

US Muslim Population was estimated at 2.5 Mil.

and UK at 1.7 Mil.

and Canada at 0.65 Mil.

and South Africa 0.7 Mil.

and Australia only 0.4 Mil.

Suriname has the highest % of Muslims as minorities in the Americas at 16%

Bosnia has the has highest in the world at ~40%

Some interesting comparisons:

There as as many Muslims from the Arab World as there are living as Minorities (20%)

17 of the 20 countries in the Arab World have more than 75% Muslim population in their countries.

Muslim minority population of Ethiopia is about as large as that of Afghanistan

and China has more Muslims than Syria

and Russia is home to more Muslims than Jordan and Libya combined

and Germany has more Muslims than Lebanon

Argentina has more Muslims than Canada

Canada’s Muslims compromise 2% of the population which is twice as much as the US according to the study.

There are three times more Muslims in Ethiopia than Somalia.

Nigeria’s Muslim population by % has slightly crossed 50% mark at 50.4%

Some of the statistics might seem unusual and there might be a reason for that, to know why certain populations (Ex. USA) are lower than expected, look at the Methodology sections(specifically section IX, Pg. 38 in the pdf). That should suffice to explain the “discrepancies”. The study mentions its methodology and at the same time points out what part of their data-collection, and satistical calculations might cause the discrepancies. It also mentions that it will be addressing them in a future publication(in 2010) that is more thorough and accurate contigent upon ascertaining or having access to that information.

I really enjoy studies on religious and cultural demographics. Some of the upcoming studies from the PEw Forum seem interesting:

These findings on the world Muslim population lay the foundation for a forthcoming study by the Pew Forum, scheduled to be released in 2010, that will estimate growth rates among Muslim populations worldwide and project Muslim populations into the future. The Pew Forum plans to launch a similar study of global Christianity in 2010 as well. The Pew Forum also plans to conduct in-depth public opinion surveys on the intersection of religion and public life around the world, starting with a 19-country survey of sub-Saharan Africa scheduled to be released later this year. These forthcoming studies are part of a larger effort – the Global Religious Futures Project, jointly funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation – that aims to increase people’s understanding of religion around the world.

Now for something just as old, but this time in a video. This is video been posted around the net for a while. It has been dated by some as 1952-1953 or 1373 AH, but looks like 1373 AH corresponds to 1953/1954 depending on the exact time of that year. And if it’s correct date is 1952 or 1953 then the Hijri date would be anywhere between 1371-1373 AH.

Notice the high pitched voice of the person making the adhaan. Masha’Allah just beautiful.

I took this course twice or three times with Br. Kamal el Mekki, and alhamdulillah it was definitely one of the best courses on da’wah I have ever taken. I did use the techniques when I would go out on the streets with the brothers, and they seemed very effective. No one way will ever work each and every person you meet, in the end the caller always needs to use wisdom when calling someone to Islam because everyone is a different case. But the course did lay a good foundation and did give some tools to approach different people differently and reply to different objections/excuses differently. I will tell you this from my own experience that this method actually works. alhamdulillah.

The other thing I wanted to mention is the website/project – dawahcorps.com. Masha’Allah this is one of the most beneficial and well organized projects I have seen come up in the past year or so. Everytime I go back to Houston everything, almost everything seemed the same, without much change. Except new standards for the level of organization and professionalism in the field of Islamic Da’wah. And a lot of the credit for this high opinion of mine goes to DawahCorps, alhamdulillah. I am/have been very excited about this project, but too bad I can’t show it as much due to the physical distance from this project as well as my constriction on time on this island(Islamic Da’wah on the island is different, left for another post). I encourage everyone to go to the Dawah Corps website – www.DawahCorps.com – and check out all their services and definitely consider using their material and perhaps arranging some of their seminar in your cities.

This post title from Muslim Apple entitled: Praying on top of Mountains in New Zealand reminded me about this madrasah a friend of mine brought to my attention: Marqaz Quba. It’s a madrasah in the Himalayas of Nepal. The project was initiated by a group of students from the Islamic University of Madeenah under the guidance of some of the scholars.

Seems liek an amazing cause and the brothers seem to be doing some really good work there. I’ve been checking the website regulary waiting for them to update the gallery. I wanted to see how the place looks, and how many students they have now.

The brothers there definitely need our support, so if anyone wants to donate then here’s the link.

alhamdulillah, as the Prophet (Sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) once said, “…My Ummah(Muslim Nation) will reach it’s(the world’s) Eastern most corner as it will reach the Western most…”

There is still a lot of work to be done. Insha’allah, I plan on making a post soon about one of my experiences on this island. I actually met someone that had never heard the word Islam or Muslims. It felt so good talking to someone that had no clue about Islam.

I started my ‘eid in Austin, TX on the 1st of August, spent most of my Ramadhaan Houston, TX, and finished my last ten days in Bird Rock, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies. And did my Eid in St. Kitts as well.

As far as the ‘Eid situation in St. Kitts is concerned, the brothers that were on the island for the end of Sha’ban went out and tried to spot the moon to start the first day of Ramdhaan but were unsuccessful, so they started on the 2nd of September.

So we were supposed to look for the moon on the 30th of September and if we found it the 1st of October would be Eid and if we didn’t find it then the 2nd of October would have been ‘Eid.

The message from the Windsor MSA read:

“A band of determined brothers set out a few minutes before Maghrib salaah on a mission to sight the moon for Eid, corresponding to the 1st of Shawwal. Just a few minutes after the sunset, they spotted it. This gives me overwhelming pleasure to congrgulate everyone for a successful Ramadhaan, insha’Allah and a joyous Eid.”

EID MUBARAK TO EVERYONE!!!!!

The following pic shows the moon for Eid, that was spotted in St. Kitts on Tuesday Night, September 30th, 2008 at around 6:30PM. Can you spot the Moon?

Eid Mubarak St. Kitts

I was informed of the brother that sighted this moon, I have to give him mad props!!! Straight up!!!

Insha’Allah the next post I will discuss how the Eid prayers went and the conclusion the brothers came to as far as the opinion we will be folowing in St. Kitts and Nevis as far as sighting the moont to start and end Ramadhaan or any other month.

Chapter 4: Repayment1.Missing a day of fast in Ramadhan2.When does one make up a missed fast3.If missed fast are not made up until few dats before next Ramadhan4.Missed fasts first or voluntary?

Chapter 5: Recommended, Disliked, and Impermissible Days of Fasting1.Recommended Every Other Day Sawn Dawood2.The three white days of every Islamic month3.Six days of Shawwaal4.Month of Muharram and the 10th5.Ten days of Dhil Hijja and that of Arafat6.Disliking of the month of Rajab7.Disliking of the day of Friday8.Disliking of the 30th of Shabaan9.Impermissibility of fasting on the two Eids10.Completing of a voluntary fast is not Wajib